This is great news, but since they're announcing Legendia first, it looks like they're skipping over bringing Tales of Rebirth to the US. That's a shame, as it's supposed to be a very good game. Hopefully, someone else will pick it up for US release (if Namco would allow that) or we'll see it on a handheld.

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"Why did the chicken cross the Mobius strip? To get to the same side." - The Big Bang Theory

if you click on "tales of legendia" on the front page, no prob, but if you click on "here" in this post, than click on "tales of legendia" you get this quaint message (tried it twice, cz i believed you!)... although it worked correctly on the third try - twice more it did this:

i must be a sucker for punishment :roll:

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Mytocles (MY-toe-cleez)

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most!"- I don't remember who said it, and probably neither do they...

thanks, Destructor... i let it rest after the kick, and it's recovered.

but, i am - once again - confused. i guess i always thought "real-time" equated with "action," as in "action rpg" - but, it must not. i found some screen shots of Tales of Legendia that show what looks like a "turn-based" game:

mytocles- action-RPG is typically combat more akin to Zelda or Kingdom Hearts. You fight enemies in the same playfield as exploration with the same full range of 3D movement you would have otherwise. Also corresponds well with "hack and slash" style gameplay.

A real-time combat system like Tales of Symphonia, Legandia, or Star Ocean utilizes a separate combat screen similar to many traditional turn-based RPGs but features all real-time attacks. You control one character in real-time, though not necessarilly with full 3D movement, while the computer AI takes care of the rest of your party.

thanks, K.G., i guess i still have to wait for Oblivion or Dungeon Lords, then. :wink: i've always known that i was safe looking for action rpg's, but started confusing that with real-time. probably the only turn-based console games i've ever really liked were the KOTOR games, and those barely qualify as turn-based. maybe Tales of Legendia will be as good... i'll keep an eye on it anyway. maybe i can get into real-time rpg's. i just don't like the random pop-up battles, a few button presses - and then just sitting there watching everything unfold.

btw, i was sitting here this morning studying your answer, when someone on G4TV said something to the effect of... "so it's all real-time, an action rpg, not a turn-based type". statements like that probably are what led me to think real-time = action, which is obviously an over-simplifiction.

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Mytocles (MY-toe-cleez)

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most!"- I don't remember who said it, and probably neither do they...

maybe i can get into real-time rpg's. i just don't like the random pop-up battles, a few button presses - and then just sitting there watching everything unfold.

Its not usually sitting there watching things unfold. A real-time battle system typically gives you a much more active role since attacks occur much quicker. Its not like Final Fantasy- select type of attack and sit back and watch combat animation.

As to random pop-up battles, I think those are gradually being phased out in console RPGs. More and more games are opting to show you potential encounters on the world map so you have some idea of what you'll be facing, when, and may even be able to avoid them.

If you have a Gamecube, I'd suggest renting Tales of Symphonia to get a feel for this. Its got probably the best real-time combat system out there and also doesn't have the random encounters you mentioned.

i looked into Tales of Symphonia a bit, and it does look fun. i'll at least put it in my "when the price drops..." category. I remember a little bit ago people were raving about it, so that's good, too. thanks for the tips!

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Mytocles (MY-toe-cleez)

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most!"- I don't remember who said it, and probably neither do they...

maybe i can get into real-time rpg's. i just don't like the random pop-up battles, a few button presses - and then just sitting there watching everything unfold.

Its not usually sitting there watching things unfold. A real-time battle system typically gives you a much more active role since attacks occur much quicker. Its not like Final Fantasy- select type of attack and sit back and watch combat animation.

As to random pop-up battles, I think those are gradually being phased out in console RPGs. More and more games are opting to show you potential encounters on the world map so you have some idea of what you'll be facing, when, and may even be able to avoid them.

If you have a Gamecube, I'd suggest renting Tales of Symphonia to get a feel for this. Its got probably the best real-time combat system out there and also doesn't have the random encounters you mentioned.

He's hit the nail on the head. This game did 'Real Time' battles just right. You can assign AI actions to your characters even, and only step in to heal and force them to cast spells. Or you can take full controll of a character and bash and spellcast directly. Even better, got three friends who want to help, pass them a controller. Then they can support you in the fights. Now, the downside to that is they'll be sitting there doing nothing when there aren't battles going on, but it's a good strong story, so they may be entertained as well.

Tim thought highly of it in his review ( http://www.consolegold.com/Reviews/review/241.html ) and it's right up there with Skies of Arcadia for story and acting in my collection. I think I'm playing it for the third time now. (Even better...you can buy special abilities when you play it again using your grade. This can make the game even more fun. I bought the abilitie that lets me carry over all the titles I've earned from the previous game.) IF Tales of Legendia is anything like Symphonia, I'm 'IN' as it were.

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Tom "Dreamshadow" Tjarks Aunt Wu: Care to hear your fortune, handsome? Iroh: At my age there is really only one big surprise left, and I'd just as soon leave it a mystery.